Irmãos em Armas

This is no war propaganda but as sheer realism as could be accomplished in filming on the Apache trail of Arizona. The main asset of the film is therefore no great landscapes and interesting interiors of Chinese life but the actors and their relationships. The trio of William Bendix, Alan Ladd and Loretta Young is invincible in their glorious acting and characters, Alan Ladd and Loretta Young being at daggers drawn from the beginning but gradually being joined by the circumstances. Already the first scenes, a long shot with only William Bendix wandering at a loss among the ruins of a bombed city being under attack and ending up with a lost baby, is as impressive as if it was an Orson Welles invention. That quality is sustained throughout the film. Loretta Young will win your heart from the start, William Bendix will gain your sympathy from the beginning and increase it until the end, and Alan Ladd is at his very best, the toughest of guys but totally stoic. John Farrow made many efficient thrillers in the 40s and 50s, but I think this is his one outstanding war film. Victor Young graced it with his music, and the dialog is pertinent all the way. The suspense keeps increasing until the final crisis and climax, and then the war just continues. China had a hard time against the Japanese, the action of this film is prior to Pearl Harbour, although that incident is part of the finale, but the Chinese are depicted with great sympathy, also Chang Kai Shek. No mention of the communists - they came later.

Shortly before Pearl Harbor, American opportunist Jones and partner Johnny are in China to sell oil to the invading Japanese army. Cynical about the sufferings of the Chinese, Jones meets compassionate teacher Carolyn Grant while travelling cross-country to Shanghai. Sparks fly between these strong-willed characters, neither budging an inch. But when Jones witnesses a Japanese atrocity, his feelings toward his customers (and Carolyn) begin to change...

A very good war adventure that starts leisurely, featuring a hard-headed American who sells oil to the Japanese and doesn't care about the atrocity caused. He's played by Alan Ladd, who does a good job as the grumpy trucker. William Bendix is a much more cheerful sidekick in contrast, and cares about people and even finds a baby amidst the war torn area.

Of course, Loretta Young as a teacher helping some Chinese kids reach their destination soon thaws Ladd's heart, and that's also helped by a surprising harrowing and brutal scene where they find the baby (Bendix had found), mother and father of a girl dead, and the girl in the house with Japanese soldiers in an implied assault scene. The action scenes are rousing and can be starkly brutal. The ending is quite shocking too with a redemptive note.

Why the hate over this film? I have to disagree. Called a quickie B movie, getting as much work out of Alan Ladd as the studio could pre-stardom(?) - the site reviews go to town.

I wasn't aware that Ladd hadn't hit stardom when this film was made - that's baloney. A B movie? With that incredible opening scene and those effects? Starring Ladd, Bendix, and Loretta Young?

This is a propaganda film. Ladd plays an opportunist who sells oil to the Japanese. One night his truck is basically taken over by Young, who is a teacher, desperate to get her female students to safety.

Ladd of course winds up joining the fight after tragedy strikes. Some very exciting and sad scenes.

And yes, the Japanese are portrayed as monsters, as they are any time it is shown what they did to the Chinese people.

Young, Ladd, Bendix, Philip Ahn, and Marianne Quon give excellent performances as do the rest of the cast.

You may notice that Bendix and Ladd often worked together in films. They were best friends and neighbors.

Always interesting to see how Ladd's height is handled. Don't believe reports that he was 5'6" or 5'7". His nickname was Tiny when the average American male's height was 5'8".

Very good film, very absorbing.

The cast is great, especially William Bendix. I think the movie was made to draw attention to the terrible situation which was going on in China at the time. Thought Bendix is better known as a comic actor in many movies he also can switch to play the serious side. Here there is a soft hearted Bendix and comical Bendix and a serious Bendix as the movie is drawn to a very dark side as the Americans and a load of Chinese students try to out run the Japanese Army.

Ladd always played one role, a tough guy, either the good guy or the bad guy but always the tough guy. From what I have read about his personal life that fit him to a tea. He does not stretch his personality in this movie.

Loretta Young is a little out of her nature. She always seemed more reserved and lady like and does not seem to fit in the darker side of China. But I think it is all this change in what people believed about them, especially Bendix and Young is what really pulled it all together and pulled it off. This is really a great movie. Propaganda? Probably, but it is a great movie.

This 1943 film, is in the realms of an Indiana Jones movie, with Alan Ladd wearing the leather jacket and black fedora hat.

I have to admit that the makers of this film, did a good job in creating China within their own native Hollywood.

Alan Ladd and Loretta Young both give good performances, who help a group of young Chinese students escape from the invading Japanese armies.

The supporting cast also give good performances.

There are lots of good action scenes, and the cinematography is excellent.

When I watched this film on dvd, I found the quality of the print, that was used to transfer this movie onto dvd was in perfect condition.